Judge Michael Malihi: Biography & Judicial Service | KnowJudges

# Michael Malihi
Chief Judge · [Georgia Office of State Administrative Hearings](/kyj/court/ga/office-of-state-administrative-hearings)

## Michael Malihi at a glance
Current roleChief Judge
Court[Georgia Office of State Administrative Hearings](/kyj/court/ga/office-of-state-administrative-hearings)
Current assignment[Georgia Office of State Administrative Hearings](/kyj/court/ga/office-of-state-administrative-hearings)
JurisdictionGeorgia · State
Judicial serviceActive

## Biography

### Professional career

- Michael M. Malihi is the Chief State Administrative Law Judge for the State of Georgia, appointed in 2016 and currently serving under Governor Brian P. Kemp

### Education


### Additional information

- Appointed Chief Judge: 2016 by former Governor Nathan Deal; currently serving under Governor Brian P. Kemp
- Deputy Chief Judge: 2002–2016 during the administrations of Governors Nathan Deal and Sonny Perdue
- One of Judge Malihi’s well‐known rulings was in February 2012, when he dismissed a challenge to President Barack Obama’s eligibility to appear on Georgia’s Democratic primary ballot.
- He found the evidence insufficient and ruled that challenges to Obama’s parents’ citizenship were irrelevant, noting Obama’s U.S. birth and citizenship

## Sources

Identity source checked August 25, 2026.
01
### Georgia Courts Directory
Identity source · HTML · Source checked August 25, 2026
[View Georgia Courts Directory ↗](https://georgiacourts.knack.com/gcd2/#directory-entries/entry-details/5b2d15dad447dd29940f85ab/)

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## Published courtroom rules

### Shared court rules

- [Georgia OSAH hearing guidance](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-008b2eb0f3f4f72a042a409a) — OSAH proceedings only. Official explanatory guidance; consult OSAH rules and case orders. Shared court context only; case-type restrictions, exceptions, later amendments and case orders apply. This is not a personal preference or a complete rules inventory. [Official source](https://osah.ga.gov/faq/). Collected 2026-10-27.